Students in Pella are planning a new series of near-space experiments this spring.

Students from Pella Community Schools, Pella Christian High School and Pella Home School have developed, engineered and constructed their own experiments over the past eight months. The tests will fly into near space in early April.

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The projects are part of the Pella Exploring Near Space, or PENS, program.

Organizers said the first flight will be comprised of five different experiments, developed and constructed by the Pella Middle School seventh-grade science classes.

The experiments will fly radish seed sprouts, apple slices, honey, popcorn and an egg into near space to observe the effects of pure vacuum, minus-40 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures and extreme ultraviolet radiation on the objects.

The flight is planned for 9 a.m. on April 3, depending on how weather conditions are the day of the launch.